Arab MKs to attend 'defend Jerusalem' conference

Next week's conference in Doha to 'tackle ways to rescue Jerusalem' and focus on 'Arab vision against Israeli plan'

Elior Levy|Published: 02.23.12 , 23:54

A number of Arab-Israeli Knesset members are scheduled to attend the "International Conference for the Defense of occupied Jerusalem," to be held in Doha, Qatar next week.

Some 350 representatives from Arab, Islamic and other countries will discuss "the legal status of Jerusalem before and after the Israeli occupation, the reality and the future of Jerusalem under occupation, and the status of the holy places under international law," the Qatar News Agency reported.

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MK Ahmad Tibi (United Arab List-Ta'al), who is expected to travel to Doha, said "the Arab world is The committed to support the residents of al-Quds and galvanize the international community against the growing (Jewish) settlement of east Jerusalem, which is aimed at Judaizing the city that was conquered in 1967."

Tibi said the Arab-Israeli lawmakers were invited to the conference by the Qatari foreign ministry.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is also expected to attend the conference, which according to Gulfnews.com will "tackle ways to rescue Jerusalem" and focus on "the Arab vision against the Israeli plan."

Abbas' spokesman, Nabil Abu Rudeina, said the Palestinian leader will deliver an "important speech on the dangers Jerusalem is exposed to and the importance of Arab and Islamic support for the preservation of the holy city's Arab character."

Arab League Secretary-General Nabil al-Arabi and United Nations Coordinator for the peace process in the Middle East Robert Serry are also expected to attend.

Moran Azulay contributed to the report